Seattle
welcomed the fleet with open arms as a first-time Team Sponsor and Host Port,
and whilst the crew were in town they took part in a variety of events to
showcase the city and meet its hospitable people.

During their
visit, teams entered the Seattle Urban Trek, an adventure race that combines the attractions of Seattle
with treasure hunting, running, social media, problem solving and team work.

Teams raced the 7 mile course which consisted
of a series of fun check points that hosted mystery cognitive or physical
challenges.

PSP
Logistics took the pennant as the winning Clipper Race team. Talking
of the team’s win, crew member Lesley Ferriday said: “We beat the boys on PSP Logistics and all the other crews and we had a great time. It was
a fantastic way to explore the city. Downtown Seattle has been amazing, it’s a
really funky city, its great fun with great hospitality and lovely people. We
have had a wonderful time.”

With a rich
history in music and art, the teams also visited the Experience Music Project
(EMP). The visit included a sound
lab where visitors can interact with a range of instruments, the Science
Fiction Hall of Fame, Guitar Gallery and the world famous Jimi Hendrix
exhibition.

Crew members also visited the patients of the Seattle
Children’s Hospital to meet some of the inspirational young people and share
their exciting stories of adventures at sea.

Providing
professionals with an insight to life as an ocean racer, the teams also took to
the water in a series of regattas, including with the Seattle Yacht Club and a
ProAm sailing day, with guests from the city and professional sportsmen.

Former
United States soccer team goalkeeper, ESPN analyst and major league player for the Seattle
Sounders FC, Kasey Keller, (pictured here with Peter Thornton)
was amongst the professionals on board.

Swapping the
turf for surf, Kasey, who also has played in the British Premier League and
German Bundesliga to
his list of accolades says:

“It’s a good
workout and its fun but there obviously needs to be a level of patience
depending on weather. I was on the GREAT
Britain boat. I spent enough time in the UK and my kids have British
passports so I figured it made the most sense to be on board that team. The
crew were awesome and it was great to meet Skipper Peter Thornton, he was first
class and we had a lot of fun and of course we won so that was wonderful. It was fun to do the work on the boat and
understand a little bit about what the crew have to go through in order to sail
the boat.

“When we first
got on board I thought everyone was a professional and then to learn that it’s
really only the Skipper and everyone else has a variety of previous experience,
some with none at all prior to the race, that’s very impressive. When you are
in any kind of competition you want to win it and be successful, the difference
between the race and football is that you don’t have 60,000 people yelling at
you if you do something wrong but you are still part of a team.

“That’s what I
think the skipper was really emphasising on board, so much of the race is down
to teamwork and everyone really working in unison so you don’t want to let your
team down.

“If someone has
the means and ability to sign up for something like this and wants a cool experience
I highly recommend it,” Kasey added.